Impossible words again: Or why beds break but not make

Collins, John (2011) Impossible words again: Or why beds break but not make. Mind and Language, 26 (2). pp. 234-260. ISSN 0268-1064

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Abstract

Do lexical items have internal structure that contributes to, or determines, the stable interpretation of their potential hosts? One argument in favour of the claim that lexical items are so structured is that certain putative verbs appear to be 'impossible', where the intended interpretation of them is apparently precluded by the character of their internal structure. The adequacy of such reasoning has recently been debated by Fodor and Lepore and Johnson, but to no apparent resolution. The present paper argues that such 'impossible word arguments' for internal lexical structure, although not apodictic, do constitute inferences to the best explanation for such structure. Alternative explanations for the 'impossible words' are considered and rejected.

Item Type:	Article
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Arts and Humanities > School of Philosophy (former - to 2014)
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Arts and Humanities > Research Groups > Philosophy
Depositing User:	Pure Connector
Date Deposited:	03 Dec 2013 15:26
Last Modified:	09 Jan 2024 01:26
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/45029
DOI:	10.1111/j.1468-0017.2011.01417.x

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